ST JOSEPH APPARITION: COTIGNAC, FRANCE 1660

“To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely.” – Revelation 21:6

On June 7th of 1660, a shepherd of 22 years of age named Gaspard Ricard, was herding his sheep to the east side of Mount Bessillon. At roughly 1pm the heat grew stronger and harder to bear. Very tired and thirsty, he decided to lay upon the rocky ground for a rest when suddenly a tall man stood next to him and pointed to a nearby rock saying: “I am Joseph, lift the rock and you will drink.” The startled young man saw that the large rock looked heavy, stating that it would take about eight men to move it. He asked how he would be able to do this alone s there were no other men around besides him. St Joseph reiterated his instruction to lift the rock. Gaspard obeyed and, moving the rock, found fresh water flowing from underneath. He began to drink excitedly and looking up he found that St Joseph had disappeared. With haste he ran into town exclaiming this news to the villagers and within three hours the small spring of water had now become a fountain of overabundant water.

It is interesting to note that St Joseph had nothing else to say besides his simple instruction to lift the rock and drink. But in the absence of words, he has told us much. Water is the sign of healing and new life in the Roman Catholic Church and here we are shown that Joseph pointed to this source of water. He is given to us as an intercessor, leading us to drink of the fountain of life in Jesus.

As a result of these occurrences, King Louis XIV (1638-1715) decreed that day to be a holiday and, after making his own pilgrimage to this place, he consecrated France - as well as himself – to St Joseph. These waters which sprang forth in Cotignac, France, would become a sign of hope for many people as these waters have curative properties for both the body and the soul. There now stands at that place a sanctuary dedicated to the honor of St Joseph. One of the documented miracles that took place was recorded in 1662 by a priest who had gone there the previous year.  “The waters of St Joseph bring miracles. Since I returned, a man whom we know from Avignon, born lame, went to the spring and came back cured, having left his crutches there. Everyone drinks and carries away the water.”  – Father Allard of the Oratory, 1662

Visions of St Joseph

Blessed Catherine de St. Augustin:  I saw Saint Joseph standing close to the entrance of the eternal doors of Heaven, and it was him, it seemed to me, who was speaking to the very august Trinity; and addressed himself to the Person of the Father. ... God the Son then gave him jurisdiction over Him, all King of Glory that He was, and wanted that he should have the honor of influence over Him.  Then, hence, turning to Saint Joseph, I said to him: “Great Saint I am yours, ask of the King of Eternal Glory that at no point I become separated from His love: He would not refuse you at His coming.”

Servant of God, Lúcia of Fátima:  We beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the sign of the cross with their hands.

St. Gertrude the Great:  I saw Heaven opened and St. Joseph sitting upon a magnificent throne. I felt myself wonderfully affected when, each time his name was mentioned, all the Saints made a profound inclination toward him, showing by the serenity and sweetness of their looks that they rejoiced with him on account of his exalted dignity.

Nobility of St Joseph Son of David

.And David the king begot Solomon... Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of her was born Jesus who is called Christ. - St. Matthew 1:1-16

The Sovereign Lord had deigned to make St. Joseph of royal blood, placing in him all the honor and glory of the House of David.

Though St. Joseph’s family no longer sat on the throne, he was still a continuation of this nobility. He carried this heritage as though it were a secret between himself and his Lord – a sacred bond between an earthly prince and the Ruler of Heaven and Earth. 

St. Joseph’s royalty was not shown with an outward crown, but one which was hidden within his most Chaste Heart – a heart in which the Lord Jesus took great consolation and great delight. - Joe Rodrigues, "St. Joseph Prince of the Church"

St. Peter Julian Eymard: Therefore, since Christ was King, of the line of David, He made Saint Joseph to be born of this same royal line. He wanted him to be noble, of earthly nobility. In the veins of St. Joseph, therefore, flows the blood of David and Solomon, and of all the noble kings of Judah. If his dynasty still sat on the throne, St. Joseph would be the heir and would have sat on the throne in his turn.

St. Bernardino of Siena: St. Joseph was born of a patriarchal, royal and princely race in a direct line. (The Gospel of) St. Matthew establishes the direct line of all the fathers from Abraham to the spouse of the Virgin, clearly demonstrating that all patriarchal, royal and princely dignity came together in him. 

St. Peter Julian Eymard: Injustice had expelled his family from the throne to which he had the right. For this he is no less a king, the son of these kings of Judah, the greatest, noblest and richest in the world. Thus in the census records of Bethlehem, St. Joseph was inscribed and recognized by the Roman governor as the heir of David: therein lies his royal title, which is easily identifiable, and bears the royal signature.

 

Royalty of St Joseph - Apostolate Mini-Presentation 

Privileges of Devotion to St Joseph

Revealed to Venerable Maria de Agreda

I have discovered that the Most High accorded to St. Joseph, because of his great sanctity, certain privileges in favor of those who choose him for their intercessor, and who invoke him with devotion.

The first is, to obtain the virtue of chastity, and to be withdrawn from the danger of losing it; the second, to receive powerful assistance to be freed from sin and to recover the grace of God ; the third, to acquire, by his means, devotion for our Blessed Lady, and dispositions to receive her favors ; the fourth, to obtain a happy death and a special protection against the demons at this last hour ; the fifth, to intimidate the enemies of our salvation by pronouncing the name of St. Joseph ; the sixth, to obtain health of body and consolation in affliction; the seventh privilege to have, by his intercession, successors in families.

God grants all these favors, and many more to those who ask for them as they ought, in the name of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin ; and I entreat all the faithful children of the Holy Church to have a great devotion for this great saint, and to be persuaded that they will become sensible of the favorable effects of his protection, if they will dispose themselves worthily to merit and to receive them.